Piller/Segan/Shepherd on hot streak

Projects include 'Greek,' 'Haven'

ABC Family’s renewal of “Greek” reps the latest in a string of wins for scrappy indie TV production shingle Piller/Segan/Shepherd.

ABC Family has picked up another 10 episodes of the show, which will enter its fourth season. Renewal will make “Greek” the cabler’s longest-running series.

Besides “Greek,” the company is currently producing 13 episodes of “Haven,” along with E1 Entertainment, for Syfy and Universal’s international channels division. The producers also have a half-hour in the works at Spike called “Bullies.”

Piller/Segan/Shepherd has spent the past few years rebuilding its roster in the wake of co-founder Michael Piller’s death from cancer in 2005.

The company’s origins stretch back to the start of this decade, when Michael Piller and son Shawn co-wrote the original pilot to “The Dead Zone.” That show was originally developed at UPN but wound up at USA, where it ran for six seasons starting in 2002. Lloyd Segan was also attached to “The Dead Zone” as an exec producer; soon the Pillers and Segan opted to merge operations as Piller/Segan. Piller/Segan then took on the drama “Wildfire” at ABC Family and were subsequently tapped to oversee “Greek.”

On “The Dead Zone,” Scott Shepherd joined in the final season as showrunner; as a result of that relationship, Piller, Segan and Shepherd decided to join forces.

“Haven,” originally developed at ABC, came out of that new partnership. Like “The Dead Zone,” “Haven” is based on a concept by Stephen King (in this case, the author’s story “The Colorado Kid”).

And just as Segan lobbied for New Mexico to enact tax credits — where Piller/Segan then shot “Wildfire” — the producers said they continue to look for ways to produce cable fare at lower budgets.

That’s how “Haven” wound up being co-produced by E1, and how Universal’s global channel group was given a piece, before the show was sold in the U.S. to Syfy.”Greek” airs at 10 p.m. Mondays as part of ABC Family’s original programming block.

The show has seen a 22% audience increase in the 18-34 demo. The show’s third-season finale is scheduled for March 29.